Bicol Tourism

We feasted on bright and native colors earlier today at Magayon Festival in Legaspi Albay. Me and my niece left for Naga about 9 am and did not get to Albay till a little after noon time. After settling down in the backpackers inn; we both grabbed some lunch at Biggs Diners in Pacific Mall and headed straight to the festival.

Magayon (Beautiful) festival is a month-long festivity this year. The festival main objective is to provide fun and excitement but also another opportunity to promote and enhance trade and tourism efforts for Albay, thus helping Provincial Government bring to fulfillment the socio-economic development and progress in Albay and the rest of the country. The month long festival will end on May 10, 2012.

Legazpi City, Albay is one of the Bicol Region’s top tourist destinations. It is where the Mayon Volcano, one of the Philippines’ most famous volcanoes is located. It is also a convenient embarkation point to other tourist destinations in the region such as the Cagsawa Ruins, the upscale resort of Misibis, Donsol, the site of one of the world’s largest annual migration of whale sharks and the white sand beaches of Sorsogon and Catanduanes.

Other places to go to and sights to visit include:

The Albay Park and Wildlife – This is a picnic grove and a park combined. It also serves as the home to 347 animals of 75 species.
Liberty Bell – Installed in 1945 by the American liberation forces at the Penaranda park, in front of Albay Provincial Capitol. It is made from bronze.
Japanese Tunnel – Used as an arsenal during the second World War, it measures 40 meters long and around 7 feet deep.
Magayon Art Gallery – Found at the lobby of the Albay Provincial Capitol and serves as the avenue for artists to show off their visual creations
Legazpi City Museum – Showcases the heritage and culture of the city. It is currently the only public museum in the Bicol Region.
Bicol Heritage Park – Located inside the Camp General Simeon Ola Headquarters. This is where you can find the statue of General Simeon A. Ola.
Ligñon Hill – Located behind Albay Park and Wildlife. One of the best places to view Mayon Volcano and Legazpi City is the Lignon Hill (also spelled as Ligñon Hill and pronounced as /li-NYON/). This 143-meter high cinder-cone hill located 11 kilometers southeast of the volcano’s summit is the highest location in the city’s downtown area and towers over the adjacent Legazpi Airport. A long and winding road crawls up the sides of Lignon Hill where there is an observation station constructed on top. This is where the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has a permanent station to observe Mayon.
Kapuntukan Hill (also known as the Sleeping Lion Hill) – This is the place to visit if you wish to have a view of the Legazpi Port District and the Albay Gulf.
Embarcadero – A major waterfront development in Legazpi that will become a destination for both local and international tourists alike. The masterplan maximizes the uniqueness of the location – the site fronts the main harbour of Legazpi with views to the Mount Mayon Volcano. Embarcadero comprises retail, restaurants, markets, a major civic space and landmark lighthouse, with a future waterfront hotel and spa. Embarcadero will “activate” the waterfront creating an attractive and vibrant focus for the city’s leisure and lifestyle activities. Embarcadero will function as a waterfront promenade, with theatrical lighting and performance spaces creating a lively, family friendly environment during the day and at night.